Kusanagi
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Nioh 3
Best Axe Build
This is a guide to the best build for Axe in Nioh 3. See the best armor and accessories to use with the Axe, which Guardian Spirit and Soul Cores to equip, as well as which stat scaling to prioritize.
List of Contents
Axe Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ High burst damage and strong stagger potential
✔︎ Excellent for pressuring enemies and breaking guards |
✖︎ Slow attacks
✖︎ High Ki consumption for attacks and combos |
The Axe excels at staggering enemies and dealing high burst damage, perfect for breaking defenses and punishing strong opponents.
However, its slower attacks make positioning crucial, and attacks consume a lot of Ki, so careful Ki management is essential to avoid being left vulnerable.
Best Scaling for Axe
Put Points Into Stamina and Strength
| Axe Scaling |
|---|
 Constitution  Stamina  Strength |
| Character Stats |
 Magic  Intellect  Heart |
Prioritize Stamina, as it provides an increase to melee attack power while allowing you to wear heavier armor for better defense. Allocate secondary points into Strength to further increase melee attack and Ki damage, helping you stagger enemies more easily.
Invest in Magic only enough to equip the recommended Soul Cores for this build. Remaining points can be placed into Heart and Intellect to improve Ki and Ki Recovery Speed, helping mitigate the Axe’s high Ki consumption while also increasing Effect Duration for your Talisman effects.
Use any remaining points to invest in stats that activate beneficial Special Effects from your armor and accessories, further strengthening your build.
Best Special Effects for Axe
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Armor |
| Accessories | |
Best Special Effects for Weapons
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Strong Attack Ki Damage ・Attack Bonus (Stamina) ・Mid Stance Martial Art Ki Consumption ・Melee Attack Ki Damage ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Mid Attack Ki Consumption (Bandit Axe)
・Martial Art Ki Damage (Ippon-Datara's Hammer) ・Increased Damage Dealt (Evil-Crusher Hammer) ・Imbue Water (Slayer's Axe) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
This build focuses on utilizing the Axe’s Mid Stance and Martial Arts combo for maximum damage, which consume a large amount of Ki. Prioritize Special Effects that improve Ki management, such as Ki Recovery Speed and reduced Ki Consumption, to maintain offensive pressure.
Additionally, increase your offensive potential by selecting Special Effects that provides Attack Bonus and increased Ki Damage, particularly those that enhance Mid Stance and Strong Attacks.
Best Special Effects for Armor
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Pulse Recovery ・Mid Stance Martial Art Ki Consumption ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption ・Toughness ・Defense |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Warrior of the East's Honor (Warrior of the East Set)
・First of the Four Guardians (Brave Demon Hunter Set) ・The God of War Looks Down (Tatenashi Set) ・Kintaro (Kintaro Set) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
Due to the Axe’s slow but powerful moveset, attacks can often leave you open after committing to a swing. Focus on adding more Ki recovery effects so you have enough Ki to guard or dodge when needed, while also including defensive effects, as these are equally crucial for survivability.
For armor, consider equipping sets that provide useful bonuses, such as the Warrior of the East Set, a great early-game option that increases Martial Art Damage and reduces Damage Taken.
For mid to late game, the Brave Demon Hunter Set offers a significant boost to Martial Art Damage, the Tatenashi Set provides excellent defensive bonuses, and the Kintaro Set enhances both Attack and Defense specifically when using Axes.
Best Special Effects for Accessories
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Water Damage ・Untouched Elixirs ・Life Drain (Elemental Damage) ・Life Recovery (Yokai Realm) |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Ki Recovery Speed (Fan)
・Effect Duration (Writing Set) ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) (Prayer Beads) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For accessories, prioritize Special Effects that boost Water Damage and Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption), as these are essential to the build. Include standard effects for Ki management, along with complementary bonuses such as Untouched Elixirs, which give you a chance not to consume an Elixir upon use.
For added survivability, look for Life Drain (Elemental Damage) and Life Recovery (Yokai Realm) to help sustain you during combat.
Best Martial Arts for Axe
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Axe Martial Arts | Samurai Martial Arts |
| Crucible Arts | |
Where to Spend Samurai Points?
Spend your Samurai Points to unlock the High and Low stances in the Samurai tree first, as these are required to access their corresponding movesets in the Axe tree.
Axe Martial Arts
| Skills | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Victory Rush | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Heaven and Earth |
| Battle Focus | 3 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・The Adamantine ・Rage |
| Heaven and Earth | Unlocked by default |
| Titanic Strength Water | 2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Mad Spinner ・Titanic Strength |
| Bear's Bane Fire | 2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Heaven and Earth ・Bear's Bane |
| Retreating Axe | 3 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Cloud Crush ・Fang Toss |
This Axe build is designed around dealing heavy melee damage while maintaining offensive pressure to stagger enemies. Prioritize acquiring Victory Rush, as it turns your Ki Pulse into an offensive dash, making it ideal for connecting Martial Arts.
Take the Battle Focus buff, as it reduces Attack Ki consumption while increasing Dodge Ki consumption, which complements longer combos and improves Ki control during offense.
Heaven and Earth is a great follow-up to a Quick Attack, while Titanic Strength Water serves as your primary follow-up from a Strong Attack, dealing Water Damage. Alternatively, you can use Bear’s Bane Fire if you prefer Fire Damage.
For defense, Retreating Axe is a strong complementary Martial Art, as it allows you to leap backward to avoid incoming attacks while still dealing damage.
Samurai Martial Arts
| Martial Arts | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Low Stance | 1 Samurai Point |
| High Stance | 1 Samurai Point |
| Deflect | 1 Samurai Point |
Unlock the High and Low Stances to access the Axe’s recommended Martial Arts. Deflect enables parrying, making it especially useful when wielding a high Ki-consuming weapon like the Axe, as successful parries do not consume Ki.
Crucible Arts
| Tornado Edge | Wield the axe in one hand and mow down a large area. |
|---|
Tornado Edge performs wide spinning slashes while moving forward, hitting enemies around you and dealing significant damage. This is a great complementary Martial Art, providing an additional offensive option for crowd control, as most other moves in this build focus on taking down individual foes.
Best Combo for Axe
Heaven and Earth to Titanic Strength Water
This combo utilizes two strong follow-ups that are perfect for staggering enemies. It can be executed in any stance, though Mid Stance is recommended.
From Mid Stance, execute a Quick Attack followed by Heaven and Earth. During the Ki Pulse window, use Victory Rush to dash toward the enemy, then perform a Strong Attack followed by Titanic Strength Water.
This combo excels while Art Proficiency is active, as it consumes less Ki, allowing you to use the remaining Ki to repeat the combo or guard and reposition as needed.
Best Skills for Axe
Secret Skills Text
| Secret Skill | Effects |
|---|---|
| Deflection Expert | Extends the window of opportunity for a successful Deflect. |
| Tempestuous Deflect | Applies Attack Efficiency to yourself after a successful Deflect, and the aforementioned Status Enhancement grows more potent as the stack count increases. Performing a normal guard or being hit by an enemy attack will reset the stack count. Attack Efficiency reduces Ki consumption when attacking with melee weapons. |
| Resilient Arts | Increases damage dealt by Strong Attacks and Martial Arts by 8.0% while Arts Proficiency is active. Makes it more difficult to fill the Arts Gauge. |
| Oppressive Strength | Prevents you from being staggered during Strong Attacks and Martial Arts while Arts Proficiency is active. |
| Awakening | Allows you to use Onmyo Magic faster. |
The listed skills strengthen the Axe’s playstyle through enhanced Deflect effects and improved Art Proficiency. Deflection Expert increases your chance to time a successful Deflect, while Tempestuous Deflect reduces melee attack Ki consumption after a successful Deflect.
Resilient Arts and Oppressive Strength boost your Art Proficiency by increasing damage dealt and preventing you from being staggered while it’s active.
Awakening complements the build by allowing Talismans to be used more quickly, making it easier to apply buffs and elemental effects during combat.
Best Guardian Spirits for Axe
| Early to Mid Game | |
|---|---|
| Late Game |
Use Kusanagi in Early to Mid Game
| Kusanagi | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
12 | 7 | Fire |
| Quest | |||
| Unlocked at the start | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Martial Art Damage +6.3%
・Fire Damage Reduction +13 ・Ki Pulse Recovery +10.8% ・Increased Arts Proficiency Damage +6.9% ・Spirit Force Charge (Martial Art) +11.0% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
| ・Heaven's Fire (Spirit Force: 40) | |||
Kusanagi pairs well with this Axe build for early to mid-game, as it boosts Martial Arts and Arts Proficiency Damage, increasing the offensive power of the Axe’s attacks. It also provides useful effects such as Ki Pulse Recovery, Fire Damage Reduction, and Spirit Force Charge, enhancing both damage output and survivability.
Kusanagi (Samurai) Guardian Spirit Guide
Use Guhin as Early to Mid Game Alternative
| Guhin | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
10 | 10 | Wind |
| Quest | |||
| Unlocked at the start | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Martial Arts Ki Consumption -8.4%
・Damage Taken -4.2% ・Strong Attack Break +11.0% ・Faster Winded Recovery ・Melee Damage vs Winded Enemy +8.4% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
| ・Eight-Handed Blade (Spirit Force: 40) | |||
Guhin is a great early to mid-game alternative if you don’t have Kusanagi, as its effects such as reduced Martial Arts Ki Consumption, increased Strong Attack Break, and bonus damage against Winded enemies are highly beneficial for this Axe build. It also provides defensive support with reduced Damage Taken and Faster Winded Recovery.
Use Oh in Late Game
| Oh | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
14 | 22 | Wind |
| Quest | |||
| Defeat Minamoto no Yoritomo at the end of the Heian era | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Spirit Force Charge Bonus (Amrita Gauge) A-
・Guard Ki Consumption -8.6% ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) 11 ・Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect) ・Item Drop Rate +17.0% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
|
・Gusting Crosswind (Spirit Force: 60)
・Cutting Wings (Spirit Force: 40) |
|||
Oh is a strong late-game option, as its Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) provides essential survivability. It also grants enhanced Spirit Force Charge Bonus, increased Item Drop Rate, reduced Guard Ki Consumption, and provides Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect), which helps improve overall Ki management that the Axe relies on heavily.
Best Soul Cores for Axe
| Yang Position |
|---|
| Yin Position |
Use Nuppeppo Soul Core for Yang
| Nuppeppo Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Life +100 ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) 12 Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Nuppeppo x3 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Rejuvenation Talisman x5 |
Nuppeppo provides strong survivability effects, including increased Life and Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption), which synergize well with the recommended Yin Soul Cores. When summoned, Nuppeppo lunges forward with a spinning attack that hits all nearby enemies, making it excellent for crowd control.
You can carry three Nuppeppo Summoning Seals, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Use Yasha Soul Core for Yang
| Yasha Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Martial Arts Ki Consumption -4.0% ・Life Drain (Water Damage) Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Yasha x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Geyser Shot Talisman x8 |
Yasha provides reduced Martial Arts Ki Consumption and Life Drain (Water Damage), which synergizes with the Water Familiar Talisman, improving health recovery while dealing Water Damage. When summoned, Yasha attacks the enemy with multiple slashes, finishing with Water Damage, making it especially effective against individual foes.
You can carry two Yasha Summoning Seals, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Use Gaki Chief Soul Core for Yin
| Gaki Chief Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Amrita Gauge Charge +7.5% ・Strong Attack Ki Damage +3.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Gaki Chief x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Extraction Talisman x5 |
Gaki provides the Extraction Talisman, which generates Amrita from enemies with any attack. This synergizes well with Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption), replenishing your Life while on offense.
You can carry five Extraction Talismans at a time. They are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Otoroshi Soul Core for Yang
| Otoroshi Soul Core | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Ki Recovery Speed +2.5% ・Life Recovery (Yokai Realm) Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Otoroshi x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Barrier Talisman x5 |
Otoroshi's Barrier Talisman increases Ki Recovery Speed and dispels Yokai Realm pools on contact. This effect complements the Ki management essential for this build.
You can carry five Barrier Talismans at a time. They are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Jakotsu-baba Soul Core for Yin
| Jakotsu-baba Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Water Damage +4.4% ・Auto-Grave Recovery +17.0% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Jakotsu-baba x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Water Familiar Talisman x4 |
Jakotsu-baba’s Water Familiar Talisman summons water orbs that deal Water Damage to nearby enemies, inflicting Saturated status and increasing the damage they take.
You can carry four Water Familiar Talismans at a time. They are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Axe Tips and Tricks
Apply Constant Pressure
The Axe excels at staggering enemies and breaking their guard. Use follow-up Martial Arts after Quick and Strong Attacks to stagger foes and create openings. Timing Victory Rush with a Ki Pulse lets you close gaps or extend attacks, maintaining constant pressure without overcommitting.
Master Ki Management
Ki management is critical for wielding the Axe effectively. Equip Special Effects that boost Ki Recovery and reduces Ki Consumption to sustain your offensive flow and avoid running out of Ki during fights. At the same time, keep an eye on your Ki meter and avoid overcommitting to attacks, as running out of Ki can leave you vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Spend Your Prestige Points to Get Bonuses
Prestige Points can be used to obtain permanent bonuses (known as Prestige) to enhance a variety of stats from 9 different categories. For this Axe build, we suggest using your points on some of the following Prestige:
- Samurai: Melee Attack Ki Consumption, Martial Art Ki Damage
- Tactics: Ki Recovery Speed
- Subjugation: Final Blow/Grapple Damage
- Formidable Enemies: Melee Ki Damage, Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy
- Exploration: Medicine Efficacy, Dash Ki Consumption
- Collection: Martial Art Damage, Damage Bonus (Equipment Weight)
Take note that the Prestige Points you've spent can be reset and redistributed to another bonus within the same category.
How to Get Prestige Points?
To get more Prestige Points for a category, fulfill a milestone or complete challenges to earn Titles. To see the available Titles you can unlock, open the Main Menu then go to Titles > Title List.
Nioh 3 Related Guides
All Samurai Builds
| Samurai Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
 Swords |
 Dual Swords |
 Spears |
 Axes |
 Odachi |
 Switchglaives |
 Cestesus |
||
All Ninja Builds
| Ninja Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
 Ninja Swords |
 Dual Ninja Swords |
 Kusarigama |
 Tonfa |
 Hatchets |
 Splitstaff |
 Talons |
||
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Best Axe Build
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